Statement by Alderman Stewart McDonald, Bannside TUV:
“In Ahoghill, Kells and Broughshane I had proposed that Council opened the MUGA football pitches during the school holidays so that young people in the area could access the floodlit pitches and play sports instead of hanging out on the streets. This was something that proved very successful and something I want to see rolled out across the borough.
“I was delighted to be invited by Rodney Quigley to a meeting hosted by Harryville Partnership to address the anti-social behaviour in the Harryville area. I brought to the attention of those present of the initiative I started in Ahoghill with opening the pitches up.
“I am pleased that the Harryville 2G MUGA pitch in will be opened for the first time this Friday, and I hope it can have the same level of success as I have witnessed elsewhere. Of course this isn’t a silver bullet to fix the problem of anti-social behaviour, but it will be another outlet for young people to engage with and stay off the streets.
“Thank you to all those involved for continuing to work to solve this problem.”